Picking the right shoes

In the last issue of Vein Health News, we talk about ways to treat (and prevent) sore feet and legs for people who stand for long periods of time.

Chris Stanley, pedorthist and director of training at Lamey Wellehan Shoes, was one of the experts who gave us some advice on caring for achy feet.

According to Chris, the number one statement that they hear from their clients is: “I'm on my feet all day, and I need a comfortable shoe.”

Here are a few tips: 

• When it comes to foot fatigue and comfort, the best treatment is an evaluation of what the person is currently wearing for shoes. About 80% of Americans are wearing shoes that don't fit correctly (often they are too small) and that can cause discomfort, especially toward the end of the day when the feet end up changing in shape and volume.

• When looking at new shoes, many people want to have soft, spongy cushions under their feet, but in most cases, that can be detrimental. Having support characteristics in a shoe will actually reduce foot fatigue and increase comfort.

• When shopping for work shoes, shop at a shoe store that measures feet and offers a variety of brands and styles. If the salesperson doesn't offer to measure your feet and doesn't bother to review how your shoes fit, then go to a different store. The proper shoe, matched with the proper size, often can solve many comfort-related issues.

• Take time to stretch. Calf stretches will help to pump blood up out of the foot and generally improve blood circulation. Rolling your foot over a tennis ball or a foot massager will help the intrinsic foot muscles.

Tired, aching legs may also be a symptom of vein disease, a condition that is highly treatable. Click here to see if you have any of the common signs of vein disease. And remember, legs aren’t supposed to hurt, even at the end of a long workday!

If you have any questions, you’re always welcome to contact us at the Vein Healthcare Center.

Love your feet

If you take care of your feet, they’ll take care of you! In our latest issue of Vein Health News, we look at ways to treat sore feet and legs for people who work on their feet for long periods of time.

We spoke to Ginger LeClair, a nail technician at Coco Cheveux Salon in South Portland, Maine. Nurses, doctors, and pharmacists – men and women – make up about 20% of her clientele.

Here are a few of Ms. LeClair’s expert tips for keeping your feet feeling good:

• The most common foot problem I see is general foot fatigue from standing for hours on end.
• Rough, dry heels are another common issue. If left untreated, the dryness can eventually lead to painful cracks (fissures), which is harder to remedy. Once they start, they usually just get worse.
• Use a pumice block when you shower to clean away any dead or rough skin on the heels.
• Apply a foot cream at night, so it absorbs while you're at rest.

If you are having foot or leg discomfort, pain, or extreme fatigue at the end of the day, schedule an evaluation at the Vein Healthcare Center to find out if it's venous (vein) related. There are modern treatments that are minimally invasive so you can get back to work!

Standing on the job

Do you work at the kind of job where you’re on your feet all day? (Nurses, teachers, and restaurant workers, we're talking to you!)

In our latest issue of Vein Health News, we look at the risks of being on your feet all day at work, as well as the role that veins may play in causing leg pain or discomfort after prolonged standing. The article explains the symptoms that indicate that leg pain may be due to vein disorders— symptoms that are often mistaken for something else.

Of course, the article also explores modes of treatment and prevention. We offer tips from experts in podiatry, pedorthics, compression, and even a nail technician. Read on to find out more about what you can do to take care of your feet so that they can keep you healthy and moving forward!

To learn more about this and other current topics in vein healthcare, click here. And if you’d like to take the next step in your vein health, click here.

One Nurse's Perspective

We are close to releasing the latest issue of Vein Health News. In the process, we've interviewed several healthcare professionals who are on their feet all day; they're also patients of VHC!

Here’s what one registered nurse had to say about Dr. Asbjornsen and the staff at VHC:

“The customer service and the environment that the Vein Center provides are pretty phenomenal. There are recliners in the waiting room so you can kick back and elevate your legs. The music is great. The rooms are comfortable.

Of course, Dr. Cindy has a wonderful beside manner – that’s a plus. All of her staff is excellent. I’m never rushed. I’ve probably been in that office a number of times and I haven’t had one negative interaction.”

–      Beth D., 55, Ogunquit, ME

To see more of what our patients are saying, click here, or read their stories here from our booklet Perspectives.

Happy National Nurses Week!

May 6-12 is National Nurses Week, sponsored by the American Nurses Foundation. This

year's theme is "Year of the Healthy Nurse."

To celebrate and support nurses everywhere, we offer some healthy leg tips for nurses who are on their feet all day.

Did you know that varicose veins can be an occupational hazard for nurses? One tried and true way to reduce the effects of vein disease -- and in some cases, prevent symptoms -- is graduated compression. 

Please note that so-called "support hose" does not have to be ugly! Not today, with the many styles and colors that are available. 

Another remedy for aching legs is to elevate them periodically and at the end of the day. This post explains how to properly elevate legs. Lastly, nurses should remember to care for their feet. Here are some tips from the blog RN Central.

Happy National Nurses Week to all of the nurses out there. Thank you for all you do!

Visit the Vein Healthcare Center in South Portland, Maine, or learn more about Dr. Cindy Asbjornsen.

Leg ulcers, an advanced stage of vein disease

Leg ulcers can occur at any stage of life and, without treatment, can cause overwhelming problems. 

When blood pools in the lower leg over a long period of time, the condition is referred to as venous stasis. When blood leaks into the tissue of the skin it can cause swelling and damage to the tissue. Tissue damage can result in wounds, or ulcers, that are chronic and do not heal if the condition is left untreated. Ulcers may be painful or itchy and often require constant care and dressing.

There are three large classes of ulcers: diabetic, arterial, and venous. Of the three types, venous, or vein-related, is the most common. In fact, venous disease is thought to account for approximately 80% of chronic leg ulcers. Venous ulcers can be caused by venous insufficiency or by a wound that has been exacerbated by venous insufficiency. 

Leg ulcers are often an indication that vein disease has reached an advanced stage. However, the key to properly treating and managing them is to first get them diagnosed. Though ulcers may appear similar, each one has a different cause and thus, very different treatments.

Clinical appearance is the first clue to distinguishing between venous and arterial ulcers. Typically, venous ulcers can appear anywhere between the knee and the ankle, while arterial ulcers are usually found between, or on the tips of, toes.

Another sign is discoloration. Venous-related wounds tend to be ruddy, and the surrounding tissue may be red or hyper-pigmented due to hemosiderin (a pigment formed by the breakdown of hemoglobin). In contrast, the wound bed of an arterial ulcer tends to be black, grayish, or yellow.

The most effective way to diagnose a venous ulcer is with a duplex Doppler ultrasound, which reveals whether or not the blood is flowing in the proper direction, or if there is any pooling occurring.

Ulcers do not heal on their own, but even those who are already experiencing this late-stage symptom can have excellent success with treatment. If you have skin breakdown or infection due to ulceration, you should visit your doctor immediately.

Veins and Feet

When people think about varicose veins, they usually think about the veins in the leg— but that’s only part of the picture. Lots of patients experience aching, heaviness, or even bulging veins in their feet. Below is just one example of a patient who found great relief after visiting Dr. Cindy Asbjornsen at the Vein Healthcare Center.

 Here’s an explanation of the process in Dr. Asbjornsen’s own words:

This 45 year-old patient came to see me complaining of aching, cramping, pain, heaviness and numbness in her legs on both sides. All of her symptoms worsened with prolonged standing, and she felt self-conscious about wearing clothes that showed her legs. She would often have difficulty falling asleep because her legs bothered her so much.

The onset of her vein issues was about 23 years ago when she was pregnant with her son. After an initial exam, including ultrasound mapping, I diagnosed her with insufficiency of the great saphenous veins bilaterally (on both sides).

I treated her with several bilateral endovenous laser ablations (EVLA) to her great saphenous veins, as well as multiple sessions of sclerotherapy to clean up the surrounding veins.

           

As you can see by the picture, the outcome for this patient was a full resolution for all her symptoms, including the bulging veins. And she enjoyed wearing shorts and skirts this summer.

To learn more about the close connection between veins and feet, read the cover story about it in Vein Health News. Just click here to read the story.